Live updates: Dolphins add two, lose one Tuesday. And players left who can fill 12 needs

Welcome to Tuesday installment of The Miami Herald’s Dolphins/NFL free agency blog.

Entering Tuesday, the Dolphins had commitments from four free agents (tight end Jonnu Smith, center Aaron Brewer and linebackers Jordyn Brooks and Anthony Walker Jr.) while losing four (Christian Wilkins, Robert Hunt, Andrew Van Ginkel and Brandon Jones) and releasing four others who remain unsigned (Xavien Howard, Jerome Baker, Emmanuel Ogbah and Keion Crossen).

We will have live updates throughout the day all week, as the Dolphins try to fill more holes. Please keep checking back for updates.

9:10 p.m.: The Dolphins plan to re-sign running back Salvon Ahmed to a one-year deal, a source said. His season ended prematurely with a foot injury, but he’s expected back for the start of the regular season.

Ahmed has averaged 3.6 yards per carry on 163 carries and has 40 catches for 274 yards. He played 135 snaps on offense and 70 on special teams in eight games last season.

He has appeared in 38 games with four starts for the Dolphins.

6:34 p.m.: The Dolphins have found an accomplished safety to pair with rising star Jevon Holland, agreeing to a one-year deal with former Buffalo Bill Jordan Poyer.

Poyer, who turns 33 in April, was released by Buffalo last week as part of a cap-saving move. He hinted at wanting to come to Miami last offseason but ultimately re-signed with the Bills, where he played the last seven seasons.

A one-time Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection, Poyer recorded 100 tackles, four pass breakups and one sack this past season. Miami needed a starting safety with Jones’ departure and DeShon Elliott an unrestricted free agent.

6 p.m.: Dolphins defensive tackle Raekwon Davis, who started 48 games in four seasons for the Dolphins, agreed to a two-year deal for $14 million with the Indianapolis Colts, his agent Trevon Smith told ESPN.

Davis said in January that he badly wanted to stay in Miami and wasn’t looking forward to exploring other options. But the Dolphins did not make him a priority this offseason.

The former second-round pick closes his Dolphins career with 129 tackles (just five for loss) and two sacks in 63 games and those 48 starts.

4:04 p.m.: The Dolphins officially announced the re-signing of offensive lineman Robert Jones, who was set to become a restricted free agent this offseason. Jones, who a source said signed a one-year deal, could compete for a starting guard spot in 2024.

3:55 p.m.: Bills special teams ace Siran Neal will visit with the Dolphins on Tuesday and the Falcons on Wednesday, per NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe.

This moves would be to bolster Miami’s special teams. Neal has only 63 and 45 defensive snaps for Buffalo over the past two years and has made just one start for them on defense in six seasons but has played in nearly every game on special teams over those six seasons.

12:55 p.m.: The pipe dream of former NFL rushing champ Derrick Henry joining the Dolphins ended Tuesday when Henry agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with the Ravens.

11:27 a.m.: The Dolphins have reinforcements to their pass rush with their top two starters rehabbing from significant leg injuries. Miami signing former Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Shaq Barrett, according to multiple reports.

According to agent Drew Rosenhaus, the contract is a one-year deal worth up to $9 million.

Barrett, who turns 32 in November, won a pair of Super Bowls with the Bucs and Denver Broncos. A two-time Pro Bowler, Barrett recorded 4.5 sacks this past season. He has 59 career sacks over nine seasons.

He will help compensate for the loss of Van Ginkel, who is signing with the Minnesota Vikings, and could be an opening-day starter with the unknown availability of Bradley Chubb (Achilles) and Jaelan Phillips (Achilles).

Because Barrett was released, he won’t count against the compensatory pick formula. The Dolphins are projected to get a pair of comp picks in 2025 for the departures of Wilkins (Las Vegas Raiders) and Hunt (Carolina Panthers).

10:29 a.m.: In addition to the previously reported cap conversions the Dolphins conducted to free cap space, Miami also tapped into what has been a more commonly used mechanism around the league to alleviate cap hits: void years.

The use of void years does not extend the contract but creates placeholder years for the prorated bonus. While void years provide more flexibility in the short term, whenever the contract voids, the player will become a free agent and the remaining bonus accelerates onto the current cap as dead money.

For Zach Sieler ($2.8 million in potential dead money in 2027), Durham Smythe ($1.2 million in 2026) and Alec Ingold ($830,000 in 2027), the dead money hit is rather negligible. But Ramsey could carry $18.5 million in dead money in 2026 if his contract isn’t extended.

9:30 a.m.: The Dolphins have at least 12 needs to fill: They need two edge players who could be backups when healthy and start if Bradley Chubb (ACL) and Jaelan Phillips (torn Achilles) miss the start of the season.

If they do not re-sign Raekwon Davis, they would need both a starting defensive tackle to replace Christian Wilkins and a nose tackle who could start when Miami is in base defense, alongside Zach Sieler and Wilkins’ replacement. (Davis made 48 starts in four years.)

They need a starting safety (DeShon Elliott or somebody else) and a starting cornerback to replace Xavien Howard.

Offensively, they need three backup receivers; Braxton Berrios, Chase Claypool, Cedrick Wilson Jr., River Cracraft and Robbie Chosen are free agents.

And they need one starting guard and a second guard who can compete with Liam Eichenberg and Rob Jones and Lester Cotton, and a backup No. 3 tackle (perhaps free agent Kendall Lamm).

Isaiah Wynn, who began last season as Miami’s starting left guard, remains a free agent as he works his way back from October’s season-ending quad injury.

The Dolphins began Tuesday with about $5 million in cap space, according to web sites that track such things, but can clear out considerably more with more cuts or restructures.

Here are some of the top players available at those need positions after one day of free agency:

WILKINS’ DEFENSIVE TACKLE SPOT

Among others: A’Shawn Robinson, Calais Campbell, Neville Gallimore, Sheldon Rankins, William Gholston, Arik Armstead. (Armstead is a street free agent, meaning he wouldn’t count toward the compensatory pick formula.)

DAVIS’ NOSE TACKLE SPOT

DJ Reader (coming off a torn quad in December but still effective), Teair Tart, and former Dolphins behemoth tackle John Jenkins and ex-Miami starter Jordan Phillips are among those who could make sense. Davis started seven games last season, so this is a part-time starting role, typically. Miami also could re-sign Davis, who badly wants to return.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS/EDGE RUSHERS

Shaq Barrett (4.5 sacks for Tampa), Bud Dupree (6.5 sacks for Pittsburgh last season), Josh Uche (11.5 sacks in 2022, but 3.0 last year), Darrell Taylor (5.5 sacks for Titans), Randy Gregory (3.5 sacks) and Markus Golden (four sacks for Pittsburgh), Dante Fowler Jr. (four sacks for Dallas), among several others.

[UPDATE: The Dolphins agreed to terms with Barrett.]

Because of past interest, I wouldn’t discount Baltimore’s Jadeveon Clowney, who had 9.5 sacks last season. He’ll presumably wanted to be paid more than modest money, however.

Note: The Vikings’ Danielle Hunter and the 49ers’ Chase Young presumably would be out of Miami’s price range.

CORNERBACK

There are still 65 left and many have been capable starters, including Tre’Davious White (cut by Buffalo), Kenny Moore, Kendall Fuller, JC Jackson, Adoree Jackson, Isaac Yiadom, Patrick Peterson, Stephon Gilmore, C.J. Henderson, Steven Nelson, Levi Wallace, Shaquille Griffin, Dane Jackson, Khristian Fulton, Fabian Moreau and Chandon Sullivan.

Note: The Dolphins reportedly have inquired about a trade for Chiefs cornerback La’Jarius Sneed, who’s very good but would cost a ton financially, as well as the compensation due Kansas City. The longer Miami goes without signing a starting cornerback, the more it’s reasonable to keep Sneed in the back of your head.

A few corners might be too pricey but are still worth closely monitoring, including the Ram’s Ahkello Witherspoon.

SAFETY

There are still 51 available, per spotrac, including Elliott (who worked with new Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver in Baltimore) and former standout starters Jamal Adams, Justin Simmons, Julian Blackmon (four interceptions last season), Budda Baker, former Bills Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, plus Quandre Diggs, Rayshawn Jenkins and a bunch of others — including Tracy Walker, Chauncey-Gardner Johnson, Jordan Whitehead and Keanu Neal.

UPDATE: The Dolphins agreed to a one-year deal with Poyer.

Note: Kamren Curl might be on the too pricey side for Miami.

GUARD

There are still 56 available, per spotrac.com, including Greg Van Wroten, Andrus Peat, Coleman Shelton, Cody Whitehair, Laken Tomlinson, Kevin Zeitler, Dalton Risner, Tyler Shatley, Jon Feliciano and Billy Turner.

Don’t discount free agent Connor Williams eventually re-signing with Miami as a guard, the position he played for four years with Dallas before he played center for the Dolphins the past two seasons. Williams, recovering from a December torn ACL, is handling his free agency methodically.

Note: The Bengals’ Jonah Williams would be a natural fit, but probably too costly.

BACKUP RECEIVER

Among those who could settle for deals commensurate with third through fifth receivers: Nick Westbrook, Allan Robinson, Van Jefferson, Brandon Powell, KJ Osborne, Mecole Hardman, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Mack Hollins, Isaiah McKenzie, Donovan Peoples-Jones.

The Dolphins have shown interest in re-signing Berrios.

Note: Calvin Ridley, Odell Beckham Jr., Tyler Boyd, Curtis Samuel, DJ Chark, Darnell Mooney, Josh Reynolds and Marquise Brown will be looking for a starting job and starter’s money - something unavailable in Miami.